Learn Southern Pomo - Alphabet 2.0.0

The Application

In supporting the revitalization of Southern Pomo, we are developing a series of language-learning applications aimed at students and community members. The initial release offers an interactive chart of the Southern Pomo alphabet, enabling learners to hear the pronunciation of each letter within sample words. This resource represents a critical step in documenting and preserving the language for future generations.

We welcome your support in advancing these efforts to recover this vital cultural heritage. Collectively, we have the opportunity to contribute to the preservation of Southern Pomo's linguistic legacy.

The Language

Southern Pomo is one of seven distinct Pomo languages, each with differences comparable to those between English and German. Unlike some indigenous languages that spanned extensive territories, Southern Pomo was historically confined to the Russian River Valley. It is the ancestral language of the Dry Creek Pomo community and is currently classified as highly endangered. Historical factors, including government-sponsored policies, forced removals, and assimilation efforts through Indian boarding schools emphasizing English-only instruction, have severely impacted its transmission.

Historically, Southern Pomo speakers faced significant prejudice; speaking their language in public often resulted in physical punishment. Consequently, many parents chose not to pass on their language to their children to protect them from discrimination and violence.

Government initiatives aimed at eradicating indigenous cultural practices led to the forced removal of children from their families and their placement in institutions where speaking native languages was prohibited. This, combined with loss of land, exposure to new diseases, and violent conflicts during American expansion, brought many California languages—Southern Pomo included—to the brink of extinction.

Despite these challenges, the language endured. Over more than seven decades, dedicated elders like the late Elizabeth Dollar of Dry Creek collaborated closely with linguists to record and document Southern Pomo for future generations.